Winthrop, John to Robert Livingston re: the marriage of their children
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC03107.00591 Author/Creator: Winthrop, John Place Written: New London, Connecticut Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 1700/12/09 Pagination: 2 p. + addr. 30.7 x 18.9 cm Order a Copy
Winthrop apologizes for his previous lack of written salutations, and begins with expressing his surprise at understanding that John Livingston was interested in the hand of Mary Winthrop, believing that Livingston had visited him on his return home only to express "a Civillety". Having discovered the younger Livingston's intentions in the older Livingston's letter, Winthrop is non-committal as to granting his blessing to this union, as "she is my onely child and most deare to me." Docketed on address leaf.
New London, [Conn.] 9 December 1700
Sir
I have the favour of your Letter of November the 15th by your son and could not but expect your Resentments that I did not write to you by him but I was then [illegible] much disabled for that service and hoped you would accept of my verball Salutations. I was much surprised when I understood your sons Affection to my Daughter beleiveing his visit here was onely a Civillety to me as he past this way in his returne home from Boston but findeing in your Letter that he has desired you Consent to adres him self to [hir], I think myself obliged to look upon it a Providence inviting me to consider of it, and indeede it is a consideration of the greatest concernment to me in the world as she is my onely child and most deare to me and I must desire Leave to hint to you that his Motion (wch must needes be knowne to your self) should have been a litle considered to remove all objections of moment that might happen, before they [2] had opportunety to intangle their Affections wch may prove of most unhappy Consequence, but you have promised me a Letter relateing to that affaire by the very first oppurtunety after your Arrivall at Albany, And if it shall please God to open away for their farther proceding, I shall be wholly guided by his Providence appearing to me therein. Your son gives me opportunety for this Letter who sends his servant to give you the acct. of his Welfare and I desire you to be assured that I will care for him whilst he is here as your self and your Lady would doe, and am glad of an opportunety to shew respect to him in gratitude for many Civilletyes I have received from your selves and his Relations there I have onely to add my affectionate salutations to both your selves & yours and am sincerely
Your affectionate servt.
J[ohn] Winthrop
New London
Dec 9th 1700
Pray give my service to Coll. Schyler, Capt. Vetch and Mr. Wessalls & where you think fit.
[docket]
Albany 29 December 1700 Maj. genl. J Winthrop govr. of Conetticutts letter
[address]
For Robert Livingston Esqr. At: Albany
<Signature>
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